FAQ & Information Sheets

To view information sheets on some of these issues or to find other resources you may require, click on the links below. The Environmental Health Officers are available to further assist you in any of these areas and can be contacted on 9841 9333 or health@albany.wa.gov.au.

You will need to fill in an Environmental Health Complaint Form. You can also put your complaint in writing, either by email staff@albany.wa.gov.au, or by using the 'report it' link, or by mail to Environmental Health, City of Albany, PO Box 484, Albany.

If the noise issue occurs after hours please contact the Albany Police Station to see if they are able to deal with it. Police action or reports can be used as evidence by the City of Albany. Please refer to the 'Noise' information sheet.

The Noise information sheet below summarises the conditions that apply to 'specified equipment' as described in the Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997.

General information is provided in the Noise Overview information sheet concerning the standards applying to neighbourhood noise, power tools, construction sites, intruder alarms, music and party noise.

More detailed information sheets are also available below on Musical Instruments, Intruder Security Alarms and the Housing Industry Association Recommendations for Noise Control on Building Sites, as these are common sources of complaint.

Should you wish to discuss a noise concern you may have, please contact one of the City's Environmental Health Officers on 9841 9333.

Download:

Health: Noise Information Sheet (28KB) View File OR Download FileThis information sheet is designed to summarise the conditions, which apply to specified equipment as described in the Environmental (Noise) Regulations 1997.

Health: Musical Instruments Noise Information Sheet (48KB) View File OR Download FileShould you wish to discuss a noise concern you may have, please contact the City on 9841 9333.

Download:

Health: Noise Intruders Security Alarms (30KB) View File OR Download FileAlarms can cause distress if they continue to be activated unnecessarily and result in frequent complaints both to the police and local authorities.

Mosquitoes are causing nuisance, what is the City of Albany doing and what can I do?

The City of Albany does undertake regular monitoring and baiting of public areas in an effort to decrease the numbers of mosquitoes. However, it is still important the property owners and occupiers take measures to ensure that mosquitoes do not breed in their backyards and lead to an increase in nuisance.

Mosquitoes in your back yard

Mosquito control in your own back yard is as important as mosquito control in public areas. Millions of mosquitoes breed in back yards in water-holding objects such as buckets, tyres and unused water tanks. Effective control throughout the community will lead to a drop in the number of mosquitoes. The information in this brochure can also be applied to controlling midges.

“Fight the Bite” campaign

The City of Albany is supporting the “Fight the Bite” campaign which encourages individuals to protect themselves and their families from mosquitoes in three ways – covering up, using repellent and cleaning up areas around the home where mosquitoes can breed.

Further information is available at: http://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/fightthebite

Homemade Mosquito Trap

You can help reduce the number of adult mosquitoes on your property by building and maintaining a simple mosquito trap, as shown in the download below.

Download:

HOMEMADE MOSQUITO TRAP (298KB) View File OR Download FileYou can help reduce the number of adult mosquitoes on your property by building and maintaining this simple mosquito trap.

Rats pose a major health risk to the community. They carry and transmit many diseases, contaminate food and food preparation areas with their fur, droppings and urine, cause damage to buildings and create foul odours with their colonies.

Download:

Health: Rats Information Sheet (39KB) View File OR Download FileOwners and occupiers of premises are required by law to prevent harbourage of rats and ensure their destruction.

Unfortunately syringes, from both medicinal and illegal usage, are often dumped in public places. This information sheet advises on safe disposal.

Download:

Health: Syringe Disposal Fact Sheet (915KB) View File OR Download FileDo not panic, take reasonable care and follow the
above steps. Let children know never to pick up a needle, but to tell an adult if they find one.

Wood smoke is a pollutant that can adversely affect our health. Research has confirmed that the smoke produced by incorrectly operated domestic wood heaters produces haze/smog. The use of dry firewood makes a large difference in how much pollution your wood heater produces. Wet or green wood doesn’t generate much heat, causing the wood heater to smoke excessively.

Please refer to the 'Wood Smoke' information sheet.

Can I burn waste in my backyard?

You cannot burn rubbish in the City of Albany due to the smoke nuisance and fire danger. If you are caught burning rubbish you may be fined. Alternative options such as bulk waste collection, greenwaste collection, bin collections of disposal at landfill facilities are all available. Small amount of greenwaste may be burnt, however other disposal options such as mulching or disposal by greenwaste collections is recommended.

Certain restrictions on the numbers and location of poultry have been set in the City of Albany Animal Local Laws. Refer to the information sheet for a summary of these conditions.

The City of Albany Animal Local Laws also address the issues of numbers of pigeons, loft construction and flight times. Refer to the document for a summary of the requirements.

Download:

Health: Keeping Poultry (56KB) View File OR Download FileA person may keep up to 12 poultry (including a maximum of 2 ducks) in a residential area, but they must be housed permanently in a specially constructed and securely fastened hut.

Download:

Health: Pigeons (32KB) View File OR Download FileBefore a person may keep pigeons on a property, the person must apply to the local government and obtain a Certificate of Registration.

Standards have been developed to help minimise dust and sand nuisances from cleared land and building sites. Land needs to be cleared and filled to undertake development but there are obligations on developers to minimise the inconvenience their actions cause to neighbouring landowners.

Download:

Health: Dust and Sand Control Information Sheet (40KB) View File OR Download FileThis information sheet has been designed to help land owners minimise dust and sand nuisances caused by cleared land and building sites.

Tattoos, body piercing, branding, cutting and scarification are all types of body art and can also be defined as skin penetration. Regulations provide for proper hygiene and control of infectious diseases.